The Cold War

Split Nations, Occupied Nations, United Nations,

Conflicting Nations

What is the Cold War?

• Era of high tension between two ideologically opposed sides led by the USA and USSR

• USA’s buddies = NATO Alliance

• USSR’s buddies = Warsaw Pact

NATO & Warsaw Pact

How Was the Cold War Fought?

• Arms Race – MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) theory = huge nuclear weapon build-up

• Proxy Wars– USA & Soviets support opposing sides

of wars across the decolonizing “3rd World”

I. Post War Axis Powers

• Germany divided in two, East and West Germany

• City of Berlin divided into four sections, (run by Britain, USA, France, USSR)

II. Occupied Japan

• Japan occupied by USA from 1945-1952

• Kept the emperor (but no power)

• Democracy installed; beginning of economic power

III. United Nations

• Currently has 190 member nations

• Includes:– General Assembly of

all nations– Security Council of 5

permanent members (US, USSR, Great Britain, France, China) and 10 rotating members

UN General Assembly Room

IV. Creation of Israel

• UN establishes Israel as homeland for Jews in 1948

• Arab nations hated it, since Palestinians had no nation of their own and land was taken from them

• A series of wars have followed

V. Berlin CrisisFirst Showdown of the Cold

War• USSR tries to take

all of Berlin• US and British

planes drop supplies to West

• Soviets backed down

• 1961 - Berlin Wall built to prevent migration to the West.

The Berlin Wall Goes Up The Berlin Wall Goes Up (1961)(1961)

CheckpoinCheckpointt

CharlieCharlie

VI. US/Former Colonial VI. US/Former Colonial ConflictsConflicts

Syngman RheeSyngman RheeKim Il-SungKim Il-Sung•Korean ConflictKorean Conflict

•South (democracy) invaded by North South (democracy) invaded by North (communist)(communist)

•Remains divided todayRemains divided today

VII. Vietnam War: 1965-1973VII. Vietnam War: 1965-1973•Commie North tries to take over US ally South

•Vietnamese viewed it as war of liberation

•US viewed it as “Containment” of communism

•US withdraws 1973, North takes over South

VIII. Uprisings against Soviets

•Hungarian Revolt – 1956

•Prague “Spring” – 1968

•Both crushed by Soviets

IX. Afghan War

• Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan to support communists

• U.S. helped Muslim guerrilla fighters

• Soviet resources drained